.380 ACP

Infobox Firearm Cartridge
name=.380 ACP


caption=Yugoslavian "9 mm Kratak" (9 mm Short) cartridges, FMJ.
origin=flag|United States
type=Pistol
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=John Browning
design_date=
manufacturer=Colt Manufacturing Company
production_date=1908
number=
variants=
is_SI_specs=
parent=
case_type=Rimless, straight
bullet=.355
neck=.373
shoulder=
base=.374
rim_dia=.374
rim_thick=.045
case_length=.680
length=.984
rifling=
primer=
is_SI_ballistics=
bw1=90
btype1=JHP
vel1=1000
en1=200
bw2=95
btype2=FMJ
vel2=980
en2=203
bw3=
btype3=
vel3=
en3=
bw4=
btype4=
vel4=
en4=
bw5=
btype5=
vel5=
en5=
test_barrel_length= 3.75
balsrc= Federal Cartridge [cite web |url=http://www.federalcartridge.com/ballistics/ |title=Federal Cartridge Ballistics |accessdate=2007-09-25 ]

The .380 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) (also referred to as the "9 mm Short", "9 mm Browning", "9 mm Kurz", "9 mm Corto" or "9x17mm") pistol cartridge is a rimless, straight-walled pistol cartridge developed by firearms designer John Browning. It was introduced in 1908 by Colt, and has been a popular self-defense cartridge ever since.

Design

The .380 ACP cartridge was designed for early blowback pistols which lacked a barrel locking mechanism. The locking mechanism that is found on most other pistols is not necessary for the .380 because of the round's low breech pressure when fired. The guide spring is enough to buffer the energy displaced to the slide. This simplifies manufacture of pistols chambered for such a round, generally thereby lowering the cost. It also permits the barrel to be permanently fixed to the frame during firing, which promotes accuracy. There have, however, been a number of locked breech pistols chambered in .380 ACP. There have also been some diminutive submachine guns, such as the Ingram MAC-11. [cite web |url=http://world.guns.ru/smg/smg22-e.htm |title=Ingram MAC Model 10 / M10 and Model 11 / M11 submachine guns (USA) |accessdate=2007-09-25 ]

The cartridge is ballistically similar to the slightly hotter 9x18mm Makarov service pistol cartridge developed in the Soviet Union. [cite web |url=http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Comparisonof9x18mmMakarovetc.htm |title=A Comparison of 9x18 mm Makarov, .380 ACP, and .38 Special (2-inch/50-millimetre barrel) |accessdate=2007-09-25 ]

Performance

The .380 ACP is compact and light, but short ranged and having marginal stopping power. [cite web |url=http://www.stevespages.com/page8f380acp.html |title=.380ACP Terminal Ballistics |accessdate=2007-09-25 ] Even so, it remains a popular self-defense cartridge for shooters who want a lightweight pistol with manageable recoil. It is slightly less powerful than a standard-pressure .38 Special and uses 9 mm(.355 in) bullets. The heaviest bullet that can be safely loaded into the .380 ACP is convert|115|gr|g, though the standard has long been 85, 90 or 95 grains (5.5, 5.8 or 6.2 g). Many consider the .380 ACP to be the minimum cartridge suitable for self defense, while others draw the line at the slightly more powerful .38 Special or at the less powerful .32 ACP. The .380 has had somewhat of a recent upsurge in popularity due to some very compact and lightweight pistols chambered for it.

There are numerous cartridges similar to the .380 ACP such as semi-rimmed .38 ACP, rebated rim 9mm Nickl, [ [http://www.oldammo.com/september05.htm 9mm Nickl identification] ] the 9mm Ultra, and 9mm Makarov.

ynonyms

*9x17mm Short
*9 mm Kurz
*9 mm Corto
*9 mm Court
*9 mm Short
*9 mm Kratak
*9 mm Browning Short
*9 mm Scurt

ee also

*9 mm caliber
*List of firearms
*List of handgun cartridges

References

External links

* [http://www.coltautos.com/ Colt Automatic Pistols Home Page] ,